​Graybill, Barnes qualify for state cross country meet

by Michael Smith


For the first time since 2020, Grain Valley will have a representative from the girls’ cross country team at state.

Senior Amyah Graybill achieved her goal of qualifying for the Missouri State High School Cross Country championships by finishing in the top 30 individually at the Class 5 District 4 meet Saturday at Jesse James Park in Kearney.

She finished 26th overall with a time of 20:33.84.

As a team, Grain Valley finished in 12th place with 278 points.

“I am really happy,” Graybill said. “I have been waiting for this moment my whole high school career. I had a lot of support. It was fun.

“The time was pretty close to my (personal record). I was pretty happy with that.”

There was a long hill near the finish line of the course and Graybill said she had to be aggressive in attacking it in order to hold on to her top 30 spot.

“There are two very large hills at the very end,” Graybill said. “I kind of have to push through it because it’s at the very end. I really wanted to hold on to my spot, so I gave it everything I could.

“I was pretty on edge. I was ranked 32nd coming into this, so I knew it was going to be close. I knew it was going to be a tough race.”

Now, Graybill will turn her attention to competing at state Friday at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.

“I really just want to have fun and embrace the experience,” Graybill said.

Others to compete for the Eagles were freshman Annabella Turner (37th place, 21:10.32), senior Jordan Gossage (64th, 22:14.86), freshman McKinley Russell (79th, 22:59.77), sophomore Emma Blew (87th, 23:51.75), senior Clara DeMoro (93rd, 24:43.28) and sophomore Lillian Snyder (94th, 24:45.64).

Boys

Senior Landon Barnes will be making his third trip to the Missouri State High School Cross Country Championships as he did enough to qualify.

On Saturday, he finished in 20th overall with a time of 16:30.60. The boys team finished in ninth place with 233 points.

During the final stretch of the race, where the long hill is, Barnes admitted that he took a conservative approach.

“It’s a tough course, especially that hill,” Barnes said. “Having run this course before, I was kind of dreading that hill coming up to it. I think I had a little more to give, but I think it was good that I was a little more conservative, so I could save some for the state.”

Barnes said he has happy with how his season has gone and will be going for an all-state finish in Columbia on Friday.

“I am glad to have all the experience that I have had,” Barnes said. “I am going to try and go out strong at state.

“I couldn’t have asked for any better of a season. The way the cards have fallen has been good for me. I am hoping to get all state. But it’s going to be hard but it’s possible. I will probably have to drop my best time by 10 seconds.”

Other to compete for the Eagles were junior Landon Blew (35th, 16:58.11), senior David Roberson (42nd, 17:13.34), senior Tyler Melton (65th, 17:58.57), sophomore Jack Turner (77th, 18:41.34), freshman Colby Sinn (78th, 18:57.86) and sophomore Jackson Edwards (79th, 19:04.66).
 

Grain Valley senior Amyah Graybill was the first Eagles girls cross country runner to qualify for state since 2020 as she finished 26th with a time of 20:33.84. Photo credit: Michael Smith

​Senior Landon Barnes qualified for state by finishing in 20th place with a time of 16:30.60 at the Class 5 District 4 meet Saturday at Jesse James Park in Kearney. Photo credit: Michael Smith